Things to do in Oslo: Vigeland Park
Vigeland Park, also known as Frognerparken, is one of the most famous parks in the world. Everyone who has had the opportunity to visit this unusual place will confirm its uniqueness. It was created by the Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland - in the area of 32 ha, visitors can see 212 sculptures, representing about 600 figures.
Vigeland Park - Vigeland and his ideas
It all started in 1907, when the Oslo authorities commissioned the sculptor to design a fountain. However, with time, Vigeland's ideas grew larger - the artist added more elements of the park, such as a bridge connecting the banks of the pond, sculptures, bas-reliefs and a monolith, a giant stone column formed from the silhouettes of naked people of different ages. Work on completing the park lasted over 40 years and was completed after the founder's death in 1943. A whole team of founders, stonemasons and blacksmiths worked on all the elements of the square - Gustav Vigeland was actually only the designer of the sculptures placed in the garden.
In the sculptures in the park, you can find inspiration from neoclassicism, as the artist was particularly fascinated by the problems of movement in sculpture. He also wanted to capture the issues of passing and important moments in the life of every human being.
Vigeland Park - delight and outrageous
The sculptures in the park have aroused mixed feelings for many years, both among Oslo residents and visitors. All the scenes show the naked figures of adults and children in various poses and situations. One of the most recognizable sculptures is Sinnataggen, or Angry Boy. A large child stomps his foot with a scowl on his face. The sculpture is so popular that tourists have to queue if they want to take a picture with it.
In the central part of the park is the fountain that started it all. Its shape is very impressive - six giants carry a huge vessel with water on their shoulders, while the entire square surrounding the fountain is covered with a mosaic.
The most famous, however, is the huge Monolith - over fourteen meters high column, carved from one stone, showing 121 naked human figures, pressed together, trying to get to the top. Artists and critics still argue about what Gustav Vigeland really meant when designing this work. Interpretations most often oscillate around the resurrection of man, human longing for spirituality or the eternal struggle for survival.
It is also worth seeing the so-called The Circle of Life, an equally controversial carving of a wreath, consisting of the naked bodies of adults and one child. Of course, this work also contains references to the passing and constant struggle of man for existence and understanding.
Vigeland Park - Vigeland's Spirit in Oslo
The inhabitants of the Norwegian capital are extremely proud of the park and the artist himself, so in addition to the vast area, which is the best monument to his legacy, tourists can also visit the museum and the Vigeland Cafe. The museum is a few minutes walk from the park itself and you can see other works by the artist in it. In turn, in the cafe, tourists can rest after a day-long sightseeing in the park and buy souvenirs.
